Principal Engineer, Automation

The Asahi Kasei Group operates with a commitment of creating for tomorrow.  Our business sectors, Material, Homes, and Health Care, contribute to the development of society by anticipating the changing needs of those around the world. We look for candidates that offer a fresh perspective and a variety of skills to help us achieve our commitment.

Bionova is a rapidly growing, biologics CDMO focused on developing and manufacturing recombinant protein products using mammalian cell culture processes. Our business success is built on bringing together top scientific talent, arming them with the best available tools, and setting them loose in an agile, energized culture focused on solving difficult client problems. Because our success depends on our ability to exceed our clients’ expectations, we look for candidates with an innate desire to serve. Adaptability and an interest in transformative action are also common attributes among our team. Bionova became a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Medical in May 2022, a division of Tokyo-based Asahi Kasei Group. This acquisition has enabled Bionova to greatly accelerate growth of the business, both in capacity of current service offerings and expansion into new service offerings.

Company:

Bionova Scientific LLC

Job Description:

Company Summary:

Bionova is a rapidly growing, biologics CDMO focused on developing and manufacturing recombinant protein products using mammalian cell culture processes. Our business success is built on bringing together top scientific talent, arming them with the best available tools, and setting them loose in an agile, energized culture focused on solving difficult client problems.

Because our success depends on our ability to exceed our clients’ expectations, we look for candidates with an innate desire to serve. Adaptability and an interest in transformative action are also common attributes among our team.

Job Summary

Bionova is seeking a highly motivated Principal Automation Engineer to join our Facilities and Engineering (F&E) team as we expand from a Contract Development Organization (CDO) to a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). This role provides an opportunity to lead and take ownership of a wide range of projects related to facility automation, utilities integration, capital expansion, and lifecycle management within a regulated GMP environment.

The Principal Automation Engineer will play a critical role in integrating Building Management Systems (BMS), automation infrastructure, and utility controls to support the construction, commissioning, and ongoing operation of our new GMP manufacturing facility and QC laboratory. This position will also oversee system administration, data integration, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of automation platforms to ensure compliance, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Serve as a IT/OT administrator for GMP systems including maintaining user accounts, performing administrative changes under change management, and ensuring state of compliance for GMP IT/OT computer systems.
• Serve as system owner for BMS, BAS, utilities, and automation platforms, including integration of BAS, EMS, and Historian systems across GMP operations.
• Lead the design, implementation, commissioning (FAT, SAT, IOQ, PQ), and qualification of automation systems, utilities, and facility equipment in alignment with user requirements, design intent, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with project teams, contractors, and A/E firms to drive automation scope, technical decisions, and successful project execution for facility buildouts and infrastructure upgrades.
• Spearhead alarm reduction initiatives by resolving excessive alarms across automation platforms, stabilizing operations, improving response times, and maintaining compliance with GMP, QA, and safety standards.  
• Specify technical requirements to ensure the design, construction, and commissioning of maintainable, compliant, and reliable automation systems.
• Lead system performance monitoring, alarm management, data integrity initiatives, and troubleshooting for automation infrastructure supporting critical GMP operations.
• Drive cross-platform data integration, consolidating performance data from automation, utilities, EMS, and historian systems to enable predictive maintenance, advanced troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Lead AI integration projects to enhance data analytics, operational efficiency, and GMP-compliant decision-making.